Post by TheShadow on May 3, 2007 3:40:36 GMT -5
Associated Press
NEW YORK --
NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell,who said last week the NFL will make baseline neuropsychological tests mandatory for the 2007 season, is requiring all team medical personnel to attend a meeting on concussions next month.
NFL spokesman Joe Browne said Wednesday that Goodell has ordered all 32 teams to send their doctors and trainers to a June 19 meeting in Chicago for the first league-wide concussion summit.
"At no time should competitive issues override medical issues," Goodell said last week. "Safety comes first."
Concussions among NFL players have drawn attention in recent months. Carolina's Dan Morgan has suffered at least five concussions in his college and NFL career, the most recent in the first game of the 2006 season.
Under Goodell's new policy, all players will be required to take a baseline neuropsychological test -- determining cognitive abilities, memory and motor skills -- by the start of the 2007 season. That way, when a player has a concussion, he can be tested to determine what neurological changes have taken place.
Some players have had baseline tests recently. Under the new policy, those players will not require another test. But those who haven't had a test will be required to have one. NFL officials said some teams administer those tests on a regular basis, while other teams administer the tests only after a concussion.
Goodell has acknowledged players often fight the medical staff to get back into games after suffering head injuries.
"We're protecting the players against the players," he said.
Around the league
CLEVELAND: The Browns have told guard Joe Andruzzi they plan to release him this week. In March, the Browns signed guard Eric Steinbach to a seven-year, $49.5 million contract. Saturday, they drafted tackle Joe Thomas with the No. 3 overall pick.
OAKLAND: Receiver Mike Williams heard all the disparaging comments about his work ethic, weight and ability as he wallowed on the bench with Detroit.
"For some reason, I was labeled fat, lazy, or this, a pot smoker, or whatever else was said," Williams said after being dealt to the Raiders.
The trade reunites Williams with Raiders coach Lane Kiffin,who coached him for two years at Southern California.
Williams reported to the Raiders on Sunday, the day after he was acquired with quarterback Josh McCown for a fourth-round pick. Oakland then dealt its own disgruntled receiver, Randy Moss,to New England, giving Williams a chance to earn playing time.
"This is Mike's chance," Kiffin said. "However you want to phrase it, he's blown a chance."
Williams was fined for being heavier than the team's weight targets for him, even though he said the Lions wanted him to be a weight -- 220 pounds -- he hasn't been since his sophomore year in high school. Kiffin said Williams weighed 242 pounds in his final college game and said he appears close to that weight now.
SEATTLE: Franchise player Josh Brown signed his tender offer worth $2,078,000 -- the average of the top five paid kickers in the NFL -- after the team could not reach a long-term deal with him.
OBITUARY: A preliminary autopsy shows that former NFL linebacker Kevin Mitchell died of a massive heart attack. He died in his sleep overnight Sunday at his home in Ashburn, Va., at age 36.
NEW YORK --
NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell,who said last week the NFL will make baseline neuropsychological tests mandatory for the 2007 season, is requiring all team medical personnel to attend a meeting on concussions next month.
NFL spokesman Joe Browne said Wednesday that Goodell has ordered all 32 teams to send their doctors and trainers to a June 19 meeting in Chicago for the first league-wide concussion summit.
"At no time should competitive issues override medical issues," Goodell said last week. "Safety comes first."
Concussions among NFL players have drawn attention in recent months. Carolina's Dan Morgan has suffered at least five concussions in his college and NFL career, the most recent in the first game of the 2006 season.
Under Goodell's new policy, all players will be required to take a baseline neuropsychological test -- determining cognitive abilities, memory and motor skills -- by the start of the 2007 season. That way, when a player has a concussion, he can be tested to determine what neurological changes have taken place.
Some players have had baseline tests recently. Under the new policy, those players will not require another test. But those who haven't had a test will be required to have one. NFL officials said some teams administer those tests on a regular basis, while other teams administer the tests only after a concussion.
Goodell has acknowledged players often fight the medical staff to get back into games after suffering head injuries.
"We're protecting the players against the players," he said.
Around the league
CLEVELAND: The Browns have told guard Joe Andruzzi they plan to release him this week. In March, the Browns signed guard Eric Steinbach to a seven-year, $49.5 million contract. Saturday, they drafted tackle Joe Thomas with the No. 3 overall pick.
OAKLAND: Receiver Mike Williams heard all the disparaging comments about his work ethic, weight and ability as he wallowed on the bench with Detroit.
"For some reason, I was labeled fat, lazy, or this, a pot smoker, or whatever else was said," Williams said after being dealt to the Raiders.
The trade reunites Williams with Raiders coach Lane Kiffin,who coached him for two years at Southern California.
Williams reported to the Raiders on Sunday, the day after he was acquired with quarterback Josh McCown for a fourth-round pick. Oakland then dealt its own disgruntled receiver, Randy Moss,to New England, giving Williams a chance to earn playing time.
"This is Mike's chance," Kiffin said. "However you want to phrase it, he's blown a chance."
Williams was fined for being heavier than the team's weight targets for him, even though he said the Lions wanted him to be a weight -- 220 pounds -- he hasn't been since his sophomore year in high school. Kiffin said Williams weighed 242 pounds in his final college game and said he appears close to that weight now.
SEATTLE: Franchise player Josh Brown signed his tender offer worth $2,078,000 -- the average of the top five paid kickers in the NFL -- after the team could not reach a long-term deal with him.
OBITUARY: A preliminary autopsy shows that former NFL linebacker Kevin Mitchell died of a massive heart attack. He died in his sleep overnight Sunday at his home in Ashburn, Va., at age 36.